Why are … while others aren't/don’t?

[Odessa Dawn]

Hi.:-D

Why are some students motivated while others don’t?
Why are some students motivated while others aren't?

Are they grammatical, please?

 

[riquecohen]

Only the second one is correct.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Because "are" is used in the question, "aren't" is correct.

Consider the sentence: "Why do some students study and others don't?"

In that case "do" appears in the question.

 

[Saj Devshi]

In what context would you use the word aren't if I may ask? It's short for "are not" but then aren't sounds like bad english :-?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Why? Are you not used to contractions?